The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-06-15


son. 1 like him." nodding her head
gravely. He is a good man. He lets me
pick the nectarines myself Dc you want
a rose, Andre7" holding out one, with
the air of young empress. Andre put
out his hand for it, when she drew it
back with a mischievous laugh.
"Come, now, I'm going to treat you as
madame does me, when she gives me
bonbons. You must spell rose before
you get it."
The lads handsome face flushed Grim
son.
"But, mam'selle," he stammered, 81
can't spell. don't know my letters"
Don't know your letters, you, big
strong boy of sixteen Oh, you must be
very lazyl Why don't you learn9"
"But, mam'selle, my father is too poor
to send me to school. l wish 1 could
learn Ah, if could only learn to read,
l would be too happy!" clasping his
hands, with the big tears in his eyes.
"You shall learn to read, Andre 7"
Pity and sympathy were at work in that
warm little heart. 81 will teach you
myself. Meet me tomorrow morning at
the summer-house on the lake. l will
bring books, and 1 will teach YOU"
''You, mann 'sellew Andre cried, stupe-
fed. If an angel from heaven had Of
| fered to teach him, he could not have
been more astonished than at this con-
descension from his beautiful little
chatelaine.
"And why not? OF course 1 shall not
tell Madame Duloc or anybody, for they
would make such fuss. But be in the
summer-house tomorrow"
Of course Andre did not fail to obey.
He never dreamed of disputing her
orders, and the lad was wild to learn.
Blanche was an exacting and impatient
little teacher, but Andre was so bright
and eager that in five months he had al
most reached the limit of Blanche's own
small requirements. She had grown ex-
tremely fond of the handsome lad, so
ready and willing to amuse her; and as
for him, he was her abject slave. All
distinctions of rank were forgotten in this
pleasant companionship, so soon to
cease.
One morning the Count returned unex-
pectedly from Paris. "Where is BlancheP
he asked Madame Duloc.
"Mademoiselle Is out on the grounds" I"
she said, tremulously. 81 have sent Celine'
for her"
"Without you, Madame Duloc!" he
said, sternly; "do you tell me my daughter
is allowed to wander about alone2"
"Ah but she will let no one follow
her" the poor governess cried, desper-
ately.
''Since you cannot control the Countess,
madame, allow me to tell you, your
services are no longer needed at Beau
iolais." The Count strobe off in search
of his daughter in terrible fury. 1t
did not lessen when, after a half-hour's
search, she was not to be found. When
near the lake, he heard voices and laughter
in the little summer-house.
Pushing open the door, he saw sight
which nearly struck him dumb. Side by
side on the bench sat the representative
of the Maupassants and a peasant boy.
They were bending over the same book,
and the golden curls of Blanche mingled
with the black hair of her companion.
"Blanche" cried the Count, in voice
of thunder.
The little girl sprang to her feet, turn
ing pale, but she did not tremblo.
''What are you doing here with that
boy2"
81 am teaching him to read, papa"
The little girls tones did not falter,
though she was horribly frightened.
Teaching him to read" the Count
was so furious that his voice tremblOd
''Back with you to the chateau, you
wicked child, and will settle with you
later. But you, you base-born, insolent
peasant, will lash you like the hound
you arew lie raised his riding whip,
but Blanche seized it, and confronted !
him with pale face and flashing eyes.
"You shall not strike him, papa" she
cried. II made him come He dared
not refuse. If you strike any one, strike
me, for did it."
Andre through his whole life never
forgot that picture. The man with his
face convulsed with fnry, the little girl
looking up with her brave eyes, ready /.
and willing to suffer in his stead. After
minute the Count seemed to recover
himself
$50 away from here boy" he cried,
'for if ever Inject you again / will cut off |
your ears and your tongue. You to want |
to Learnt BAH"
This was no idle threat at that time in
France. Grand Seigneurs had the liberty |
of mutilating, or even killing, their vassals |
at their own free will, and the boy knew |
that his fathers house was no longer safe |
for him. But his thirst for knowledge, |
begun by the lessons of his little mistress,
led him TO a Jesuit college, where his |
uncle, priest, was one of the professors. |
There he remained for six years, while /
the thunders of great Revolution were |
growing in the distance.
When Andre left college, the guillotine 4
had already cut off many of the greatest |
and noblest names in France. His |
education and ability and hatred of
aristocracy soon secured him a position |
of confidence with Petion, one of the /
Revolutionary leaders.
Andre shuddered at the bloodshed and .
violence which had turned France into a |
butchers shambles, but then he dreamed |
that the outcome would be liberty.
He had heard that the Chateau of
Beaujolais had been burned TO the
ground, and the Count and his daughter |
had escaped Where the Count had gone